Friday, April 23, 2010

The Three Cs: Cancer, Chemo and Colds

Which of these doesn't belong in the group?

After being diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer and undergoing some of the harshest chemo known to man, I would think that I would now sneeze in the face of colds. Only wimps complain about colds, right?

Wrong. After catching yet another cold four weeks ago, I've been tired, sluggish and grumpy. An active day is followed by a day of recuperation. And it seems that I no sooner recover from a cold or flu that I've caught another bug.

During my visit at City of Hope yesterday, I told my doctor that I now catch colds and flus more easily (I've had two bouts of the flu and two colds since December, with sick days outnumbering well days 5 to 1), that I'm knocked down harder and that it takes me longer to get back up again. He believes that my immune system was battered by the post-stem-cell-transplant maintenance Rituxan that I took every quarter for nearly two years. We cut short the last infusion because he suspected that my immune system was taking a hit.

"It's one of the things that we doctors often debate," he said. The efficacy of Rituxan for keeping patients in remission is uncertain. But the pummelling of the immune system with some patients on Rituxan is certain.

If someone had come to me with these facts before the decision to go with the maintenance Rituxan, I doubt that my decision would be different. I figured only a fool would pass on a chance for a longer remission because of a fear of sniffles.

But as I reach for one more Kleenex and cover one more cough, I'm beginning to wonder.

27 comments:

When I finished chemo (one year ago April 30) I felt like I got every cold or bug that went around for the next 6 months. And I whined my head off about it! So I know what you mean. Hope you are feeling better soon!

Well, Susan, those colds can just suck it. Hope you feel better. Let me know if I can bring over some dessert (sorry, I can't cook very well so I can't bring you the best chicken soup, but I think cupcakes have medicinal powers.) - mary

Chicken soup with matzo balls. A few carrots swimming around for color, but it is the soup and the matzo balls that heal the human cold.

Susan, if your weather is anything like ours here in AZ, it could very well be the culprit. One day 90, the next day 62. Even the best immune systems shutter at the thought of such wide pendulum swings.

I hope you feel better soon. Perhaps this is the perfect time to try that yummy soup recipe I sent you. Not the same as chicken soup, but still hearty, warm and very comforting.

Hey SusanApart from the IV-IG (which you probably don't need/want!) the thing that has helped me really a lot against colds, is washing my hands. I never used to be a good hand-washer, but I now do it a lot lot more! Like every time I come in from shopping or anything.

I feel like I've had significantly less colds that I used to before NHL ... :) But - you probably do all that stuff already. Hope it all goes soon - going into Spring should help I hope!!

I am sure your decision would be the same but I feel your pain. Part of the problem with me is that my immune system is hampered by my cancer treatments and spleen removal. Right now they are trying to figure out just what is causing what. I think I have coughed nonstop for four weeks. I have pulled one muscle to the point that it has spasmed for two weeks. It's frustrating to fight so hard and then not to have the good health to enjoy the days we have now.

i had my first cold this Feb in like 4-5 years, Dx was 3 1/2 yrs ago...despite all the warnings of what to avoid, that your immune system is low during treatment...i haven't had chemo for what seems like eons and only now i get a cold? docs have no suggestions, other than power pump fluids and/or blood product to keep me "healthier".

best bet is to remember that hand washing and avoidance you had during treatments and keep it up.

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My team at the City of Hope decided to bring out the big guns - six rounds of Hyper CVAD followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. I bounced back after each round of chemo, but my blood counts didn't.

After four rounds we called chemo quits and started collecting stem cells for the auto stem cell transplant. The harvesting took three tries, two drugs and eight weeks, but I finally eked out the minimum two million stem cells.

After megadoses of chemo, I received my stem cells on November 14 and 15, 2007. I bounced back almost immediately. Best of all, I achieved complete remission from the Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

In January 2008, I was hospitalized for 11 days for chemo-induced pneumonia. I bounced back.

In the summer of 2008, my eosinophils (a component of the white blood cells) rose to dangerous levels and infiltrated my lungs and GI tract. My weight dropped to 105 pounds, and I was incapacitated for nearly three months. Once again, I bounced back.

I continue to make monthly visits to the City of Hope for blood tests and check ups, quarterly visits for maintenance Rituxan and semi-annual visits for scans.

I'm still in remission and have more energy than ever. And about that perfect purse? I keep looking.